Barnes leads Raptors to second straight win with strong defence
Scottie Barnes had 28 points and 14 rebounds as Toronto forced 23 turnovers to improve to 2-0.
WASHINGTON · The Toronto Raptors defeated the Washington Wizards 112-102 on Friday night to improve to 2-0 on the young NBA season. Scottie Barnes led the way with 28 points and 14 rebounds, while RJ Barrett contributed 23 points and Kawhi Leonard added 16. The Raptors forced 23 turnovers from the Wizards, continuing a defensive trend after forcing 27 in their season opener. Trae Young paced Washington with 22 points and 12 assists, but his team trailed from the outset and fell despite a third-quarter push.
Washington rookie Tre Johnson scored 20 points, but veteran Anthony Davis was held to just nine points on 3-for-12 shooting. Davis had erupted for 34 points in the Wizards' season-opening victory two nights earlier. Toronto dominated the boards with an 18-6 advantage on the offensive glass, which translated to a 52-32 edge in points scored in the paint. The Wizards closed the gap in the third quarter, getting within a possession for the first time since the opening period on a Bilal Coulibaly layup that made it 64-61. A subsequent 9-0 run brought Washington to within a single point of the lead. Jamison Battle hit a three-pointer to cut Toronto's lead to 81-77 at the end of the third, but the Raptors maintained a cushion of multiple possessions throughout the final quarter.
Toronto started quickly, with Barrett and Leonard each hitting a three-pointer to open the scoring. A 12-3 run was capped by a Collin Murray-Boyles steal and dunk that extended the lead to 22-11. Barrett and Allen Graves then scored the first two baskets of the second quarter to push the advantage to 38-21. The Wizards were again without top rookie AJ Dybantsa, who missed his second straight game with a left ankle sprain. Up next: The Raptors visit the Minnesota Timberwolves on Sunday.
With files from The Globe and Mail, The Alexandria Brief and Toronto Star